Grounding fitting



1940. c. H. BESSELL GROUNDING FITTING 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 11,1938 INVENTOR.

ATTO EYS.

Oct 1940.. an. BISSELL GROUNDING FITTING Filed Feb. 11, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 2 121i i I W/AZ/MZLZ Patented Oct. 1, 1940 2,216,309GROUNDING FITTING,

I Carl H. Bissell, Syracuse, N. Y., assignorto Grouse-Hinds Company,Syracuse, N. Y ga corporation of New York Application February 11, 1938,Serial No. 190,07

1 Claim.

This invention relates to electrical grounding fittings of the typecommonly employed for electrically and mechanically connecting theground wire of an electrical system and the enclosing conduit to aconductor, such as a water pipe.

The invention has as an object a grounding fitting of the type referredto which embodies a particularly economical and simplified construction,and which is conveniently adjustable for different sizes of conductorsor water pipes.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the grounding fitting embodyingmy invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 4 is a top plan view including means for attachment to theconduit system.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 4.

The invention consists generally of a pair of jaw members for gripping aconductor, such as a water pipe, and having cooperating means at likeends for adjustably and pivotally securing the members together, andscrew means for drawing the opposite ends of the jaws together to gripthe conductor, and means for securing the ground wire to one of saidmembers.

The jaw members I0, II are concave in general form to partially encircleand grip the conductor I2, here shown as a solid rod, but which mayconsist of a pipev or tube. The jaws II], II are provided at like endswith means for adjustably and pivotally connecting the same, and theopposite ends are moved toward each other to clamp the jaw members tothe conductor.

As here shown, the adjustable pivot means consists of a plurality ofrecesses formed in one jaw, and a projection carried by the other jawand which may be placed in the various recesses in order to accommodatedifferent sizes in the conductor l2. The lower jaw I0 is formed with apair of spaced apart arms l3 which extend upwardly from one end thereoftoward the upper jaw H. The rear or outer edges of the arms l3 areprovided with recesses or notches I4. The upper jaw H is formed with arearwardly extending projection or arm l5, and at its outer end isprovided with transversely extending projections Hi. The width of thearm I5 is such as to permit it to be inserted between the arms l3, andthe projections l6 are received in the recesses 14, the projections I6acting as pivot pins to permit relative movement between the jawmembers.

Preferably, the arms l3 are provided with two or more recesses or pairsof notches, whereby the jaw members may be initially adjusted or securedtogether in pivotal relationship to accommodate different sizes ofconductors as will be apparent from the drawings.

The opposite ends of the jaws [0, H are provided with a bolt l8 and nutl9 cooperable with the ends of the jaws to clamp the jaws firmly aboutthe .conductor I2. The jaws Ill, II are provided with ribs 20, 2| togive the jaws necessary strength and rigidity, and the ribs 29 of thejaw I0 are continued throughout the width of the screw receiving endportions, as at 22. The bolt [8 is formed with a square head 23cooperable with the rib portions 22 to prevent relative turning of thebolt, and the shank of the bolt, which is of obround formation, isprovided with an aperture 24, one side of which is arranged tangent withthe under side of the bolt head 23. One of the rib portions 22 is formedwith a boss 25 having a bore to receive the armor 26 of a ground wire 21which extends through the aperture 24 of bolt l8 and through ,anaperture formed in the opposite rib portion 22. The apertures in the ribportions 22 are arranged tangent with the under side of the jaw 10whereby, when the nut I9 is tightened, the grounding wire 21 is clampedbetween the head of the bolt and the under side of the jaw l0 withoutcausing any shearing of the wire.

In Figures 4 and 5, the jaw I0 is formed with a lug 28 to which isadjustably clamped a body section 29 threaded internally to receive aconduit 3|] enclosing the grounding wire 21. The body section 29 isadjustably clamped to the lug 28 by bolt 3|, the arrangement being suchthat the end of the grounding wire 21 is clamped underneath the head ofthe bolt 3l instead of under the head of the clamping bolt 32.

It will be observed that my grounding device is conveniently adjustableto accommodate different sizes of conductors, and due to the clampingarrangement of the jaws the same are tightly clamped on the conductorwith considerable pressure avoiding the possibility of the fittingbecoming loose on the conductor. The one fitting readily accommodatesconductors ranging from a comparatively small grounding rod to a largesize water pipe.

What I claim is:

An electrical grounding fitting comprising a pair of jaw members, one ofsaid members being formed at one end with a pair of projections arrangedin parallel spaced apart relationship and extending at right angles tosaid member, each of said projections being formed with a plurality ofnotches, the notches of each projection being alined with the notches onthe other projection forming a plurality of pairs of notches, said otherjaw member having a projection extending between the projections of saidfirst member and pivotally engaging any one pair of said notches on thefirst member, whereby said members are fulcrumed at corresponding ends,a bolt extending through opposite ends of said members with the head ofthe bolt overlapping one jaw member, said last mentioned jaw memberbeing formed with an aperture to receive the head of the bolt, said boltbeing formed with an aperture extending through the shank thereofadjacent the head, and opposite sides of said recess being formed withalined apertures to receive a ground wire, a nut threaded on said boltand operable to move said jaw members toward each other about saidfulcrum to engage and grip a conductor and to clamp the ground wirebetween the head of the bolt and the adjacent jaw member.

CARL H. BISSELL.

